Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made sharp remarks about the Russian leadership in his Christmas address. The state leader referred to the unified desire of Ukrainians, describing Russian troops' attacks on the eve of the holiday as "godlessness."
Christmas message: "Let him die"
Speaking to the nation on the night of December 25, while Zelensky did not directly name Vladimir Putin, he alluded to him, stating:
"Today, we all have the same wish. Everyone inwardly prays, ‘Let him die.’ But when we appeal to the Creator, we must, of course, ask for something greater — peace for Ukraine."
He also criticized missile strikes during the holiday period, calling such actions inconsistent with human and Christian values.
The Kremlin's strong response
Zelensky's statement provoked serious objections in Moscow. Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov characterized this rhetoric as an expression of "incivility" and "hostility":
- Peskov’s reaction: "Zelensky appears to be an irrational individual. Is he capable of adopting political-diplomatic solutions?" he questioned.
Relationship history: From dialogue to enmity
The relations between the two leaders have declined drastically in recent years:
- 2019–2020 (Attempts at dialogue): When Zelensky came to power, he sought to end the war, holding meetings within the "Normandy format" framework and facilitating prisoner exchanges.
- 2021 (Crisis escalation): Relations cooled due to the buildup of troops at the border and Ukraine's alignment with the West.
- 2022–2025 (Open hostility): After the onset of full-scale war, Zelensky declared Putin a war criminal and officially banned negotiations with him.
Personal animosity and a diplomatic wall
There is currently no trust left between the two politicians. Putin considers Zelensky a "puppet under external control," avoiding mentioning his name and instead referring to the "Kyiv regime." Zelensky, on the other hand, presents Putin as the sole culprit behind the tragedies in Ukraine to the international community.
Do you think such personal animosity between the two state leaders makes peace talks entirely impossible?
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